Request for Proposals
Bias and Inclusion Training Services
Seeking DEI Trainers
This Request for Proposals is issued to contract with training or DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) related agencies for the performance of Bias and Inclusion Training Services.
Ideal service providers can:
- Train us in person on site.
- Address workplace unconscious bias.
- Promote inclusivity.
- Help staff identify and address bias wherever they see it.
Offerors will be qualified and able to deliver in-person training on addressing workplace bias and promoting inclusivity. Training will include information to increase awareness and understanding of unconscious bias. Training will empower staff with strategies to identify and address bias both within the workplace and with external stakeholders.
Right-sized services look like:
Training content and structure must be appropriate for a small nonprofit organization with a widespread, diverse network of stakeholders. Training will be delivered to 15-20 office staff with varied levels of understanding and knowledge of the subject matter.
Registered DBEs preferred.
Disadvantaged businesses currently registered with a Kansas-City-area municipality, or the states of KS or MO are encouraged to apply to this solicitation. Disadvantaged business means Minority-owned, Women-owned, Disability-owned, and Small-and-Local Business Enterprises.
- RFP Issue Date
- Pre-Proposal Webinar
- RFP Questions Deadline
- RFP Submission Deadline
- Expected Date for MEC Selection Notification
- Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations
- 3/14/2023
- 3/28/2023 10:00 a.m. CT
- 4/4/2023
- 4/11/2023 2:00 p.m. CT
- 4/21/2023
- April-May 2023
Request for Proposals
MEC RFP guidance document (click to download PDF)
Pre-Proposal Webinar and Information
A pre-proposal meeting was held, during which MEC conducted a walk-through of the RFP document and took questions. The meeting recording is at the link below.
Recorded meeting: RFP – Bias and Inclusion Training Services (click to play)
Questions and Answers
Applicants are encouraged to submit questions in writing to Jeff Windsor via rfa@metroenergy.org. Questions will be accepted until April 4, 2023. MEC will endeavor to respond to all questions publicly via this FAQ by April 6. Emails should use the subject line: “Query for Bias Training RFP”.
Q/A.0: Please note the correct question deadline (Apr 4) and response date (Apr 6). Our webinar contained a typo on a slide incorrectly describing these dates.
Q.1: Are the three (3) sessions three individual classes or a group of classes designed to encompass the 3 focus areas outlined in the RFP document on the link?
A.1: Our vision is 3 individual classes. However, we are expecting proposers to use their experience and judgement to offer alternate structures if needed to achieve these learning objectives.
Q.2: Any required time limits per session?
A.2: No such requirements are present in the RFP scope.
Q.3: Is there a specific budget that MEC is attempting to stay within?
A.3: No such requirements are present in the RFP scope.
Q.4: For the individual classes, are they to be 8 hours, 6 hours, 4, etc.?
A.4: No such requirements are present in the RFP scope, and should be proposed according to best practices and the agency’s experience.
Q.5: Will the sessions be at MEC headquarters? Is AV available to use or should we provide our own equipment?
A.5: Sessions will be scheduled at a location in Kansas City where MEC can provide AV.
Q.6: What are the expected success measures of the training?
A.6: Refer to the RFP scope of services for the training topics. Proposals must contain a description of specific learning objectives designed to be delivered with the training offered.
Q.7: What role do the attendees have within MEC?
A.7: All employees, from interns to executive management, will be required to attend the training sessions.
Q.8: will this presentation be available to us after this meeting?
A.8: Yes. See metroenergy.org/procurement.
Q.9: You are only seeking a 10 page total proposal response?
A.9: Yes. Attendees are asked to please provide feedback via this q/a or by email to rfp@metroenergy.org if in your experience more pages are necessary to provide a reasonable response. Should MEC determine to increase the allowed page count or allow for attached exhibits, the RFP will be modified, and an announcement email sent to all those on our proposer list.
Q.10: The RFP instructions indicate that the responders have liberty to showcase other courses the organization offers, should MEC decide to ‘pick and choose’ from the additional courses offered will you want them structured in a way that has a focus on inclusion and bias or does the responder have discretion of the curriculum for those additional classes?
A10. Responder has discretion of the curriculum offered within any optional classes proposed.
Q.11: What is the driving force behind the need for Bias and Inclusion Training at Metropolitan Energy Center?
A.11: There are many driving forces behind the need. Primarily, our agency is committed first to recognizing energy and environmental injustice, and then to combating these injustices with the implementation of our programs. This commitment presents a need to train and retrain our staff. Second, as we grow we are intentionally seeking candidates from diverse cultural backgrounds, and inter-office communications must also evolve with the staff changes. A third motivation is the breadth of stakeholders and customers we interact with, which include rural communities and small towns, a variety of urban communities and neighborhoods, and a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds among community residents. Finally, there is the recent focus on these matters by several of our funders, including our participation in several grant programs requiring inclusive participation by Justice40 communities.
Q.12: During the webinar it was stated that that all employees from interns to executive management will be going through this training, it was also mentioned that there will be between 15-20 attendees in the classes. Does this number total all the staff of Metropolitan Energy Center or will there be multiple groups for each session curriculum? If multiple sessions, what is the total number of staff expected to go through this training?
A.12: Our total staff number is currently below 20. Our intent is to schedule a single group class for each session, which all staff members will be expected to attend.
Q.13: Are there limitations to the amount of time staff can be away from work to attend these sessions? For example, if our proposal comes back with three sessions at eight hours each, can the staff be expected to be away from the day to day activities during the days of the sessions?
A.13. If 8-hour sessions are recommended by the winning proposer, management will work with the vendor to plan them when all staff can attend.